USA > Massachusetts > Massachusetts of today; a memorial of the state, historical and biographical, issued for the World's Columbian exposition at Chicago > Part 71
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560
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
L UCIUS B. WALKLEY was born in Westfield, Sept. 21, 1822. He was married in December, 1847, to Sarah C. Young, of Westfield, and they have six children, two boys and four girls, all of whom are living. Until his sixteenth year he attended the public schools, but at that period of his life he enlisted in the Third Regiment, United States Artillery, for five years, during which service he became sergeant of Company B, and served in the war in Florida. At the expiration of his term of service he returned to Westfield and learned the trade of a mason, but dur- ing the gold fever excitement of 1850 he went to California. There he spent a year in the gold mines, then returned to Westfield in 1851 and resumed his business as a mason. Since that time he has held many posi- tions of trust and honor in the town and county and is justly esteemed one of Westfield's fore- most citizens. Among the offices that he has held is that of constable and police officer for many years, and a deputy sheriffship of the counties of Hampden and Hampshire for about eleven years. He was also prominent in the military of the State, and held all of the commissioned offices in the Tenth Regi- ment from that of lieutenant to colonel. In May, 1861, he enlisted a company of volunteers for the Civil War, and on June 21, 1861, was mustered into service as captain of Company K, 'Tenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volun- teers. The regiment was attached to the Army of the Potomac, and was engaged in building fortifications and guarding the approaches to Washington until March,
1862. He then went to the Peninsula with General McClellan and took part in the siege of Yorktown and the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Charles City Cross Roads and Malvern Hill. He resigned his com- mission at Harrison's Landing, July 16, 1862, and was commissioned major of the Forty-sixth Regiment, Mas- sachusetts Volunteer Militia, in October of the same year, being promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy in a short time. He joined the army under General Foster, at Newbern, N. C., and was in the Golds- boro expedition, the fights at Kinston, White Hall and Goldsboro, besides being in several other expeditions. In June, 1863, his bri- gade was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac and during the battle of Gettys- burg was detailed to guard the approaches to Baltimore, after which it joined Gen- eral Meade's army at Frankstown. The Rebel Army having crossed the river and the regiment's time having expired, it was ordered home and was mustered out in July, 1863. After the expiration of his military ser- vice Colonel Walk- ley went into busi- ness and is now a contractor and builder and a large manufacturer of brick. He is president of the Westfield Brick Company, a past master of Mt. Moriah Lodge of Masons, a member of Springfield Commandery, Knights Templar, and is also a past commander of Lyon Grand Army Post. Politi- cally, Colonel Walkley is a stanch Republican. He is also a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is prominent in the social and religions life of Westfield.
LUCIUS B. WALKLEY.
561
WESTFIELD.
ROBERT BRUCE CRANE AND JAMES ARTHUR CRANE.
ONNECTED inseparably with the manufacture of paper in Massachu- setts, ever since the beginning of the present century, is the name of Crane. In 1801 Zenas Crane established his paper mill in Dalton, and ever since then the different generations of the family have been actively engaged in the manufacture of the product. One branch of this family resides in Westfield, where they operate paper mills, the plant being owned and worked by Robert Bruce Crane and James Arthur Crane, sons of the late James B. Crane, of Dalton, and grand- sons of Zenas Crane, under the title of Crane Brothers. The product of their mills has attained an international reputation.
Robert Bruce Crane was born in Dalton, June 4, 1845. He attended a private school in Pittsfield and the Mili- tary Acadeny in Worcester, and later took a course in Williston Seminary at Easthampton, finishing his educa- tion with a six months' trip through Europe, in company with his brother, J. Arthur Crane. He has been promi- nent in the town affairs of Westfield, and was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1890 and 1891, serving as chairman of the Committee on Labor.
J. Arthur Crane was born in Dalton, Dec. 24, 1847. He studied in Williston Seminary, and after the broth- ers returned from their European trip, they at once engaged in the business of paper making, in 1867, at Ballston Springs, N. Y. The following year they pur- chased the plant in Westfield, and since then have built the business, from the smallest foundation, up to fine proportions. Their main mills are situated on a stream about two miles from the station of the Boston & Albany and the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroads in Westfield, and are connected with the latter railroad by a spur track, which they own, while the smaller mill is about a mile above on the same stream. The mills are all built of brick in the most substantial manner, and power is supplied from the river, with a supplementary force provided for by Corliss engines. The chief prod- uct of the company is a linen paper, and the water- marks on Crane's " Linen Record," "Japanese Linen,"
and "Warranted All Linen " are familiar throughout the country. The success of this paper is due to the extraor- dinary care taken even in the smallest details of its manufacture. One of the chief elements in the success of this grade of paper is the use of very pure water, brought in six-inch pipes from the mountains at the rate of five hundred gallons per minute. Another rea- son for the excellence of the paper is that the rags for making the paper are all cut by hand, because, being of a better grade than ordinary rags, they cannot be well cut by machine, as by the latter process it would be impossible to obtain the required fibre. This same attention to detail characterizes every branch of the business, and to it can be traced the success of Crane Brothers' paper.
In 1876 they obtained the highest award for record paper at the Centennial Exhibition, while two years later they obtained the highest award at Berlin and the grand prize gold medal at Paris. In 1880 the Mel- bourne Exposition awarded them a gold medal, and the New Orleans Exposition gave them a grand prize gold medal in 1885. A medal of superiority was received from the American Institute, New York, in 1889, and a silver medal from the Mechanics' Fair in Boston in 1 890.
Aside from the manufacture of paper, the mills have a product, known as "linenoid," from which are made a variety of seamless articles, including mill and ware- house baskets, boats and canoes, trunks, bath tubs, caskets, cylinders, poll triangles, etc.
J. Arthur Crane has charge of the mills, while R. B. Crane devotes much of his time to their stock farm of some six hundred acres, which is known as the Wolf Pit Stock Farm, and which is largely devoted to the raising of fine horses. The most important stallion on the farm is the celebrated Chronos, with a record of 2.123, who made such a fine showing on the circuit last year.
J. Arthur Crane was married Jan. 17, 1883, to Clara B. Kittredge, daughter of Hon. Charles J. Kittredge, of Hinsdale, Mass., and they have two children. The initial letter with which this sketch begins is Crane Brothers' trade-mark.
562
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
J JOHN RICHARD REED was born March 25, 1832, his father being Rev. Augustus Reed, the Congre- gational pastor in Ware, Mass., who died in 1838. Mrs. Reed removed to Westfield with her children, where they were educated. In 1849 she migrated to Fall River, where her son John spent a few months as clerk in a store. He was soon attracted by the life of a sailor, and at the age of twenty shipped in the forecastle, spending the next three and one-half years in the Northern Pacific and Arctic oceans. While voyaging he was strongly tempted to seek his fortune in New Zealand, but was induced to stay by the ship and re- turned home in 1855. He soon afterwards visited his brother in Westfield and en- tered the employ of H. B. Smith & Co. This company was founded in 1853 by Henry B. and Edwin Smith, brothers, the plant being a small one engaged in the manufacture of iron fences, principally. This business was continued for about seven years until they became inter- ested in and com- menced the manu- facture of Gold's steam and water heaters, the inven- tion of Samuel Gold, of Englewood, N. J., and William A. Foskett, of Meriden, Conn. The company began the following year the sale and building of the first combined steam and water heating apparatus for warm- ing residences and the smaller class of buildings. At this time the company was melting three tons of iron daily, which was put into these boilers and radiators. Mr. Reed became connected with the company in 1859, and much of the earlier success of the Smith brothers
was due to his untiring zeal. Their efforts were so suc- cessful that in 1863 they had to erect a larger cupola to accommodate the output, which had increased to eight or ten tons per day. The business continued under these favorable conditions from 1872 to 1878, when there was a depression in this as in many other branches of industry. In consequence of this state of things it was found desirable to reorganize the firm, whereby the capital was increased and the responsibility divided and limited. Upon the reorganization of the firm, John R. Reed became the president and general manager, Andrew Mercer vice- president, and Philip C. Smith, treasurer. At this time, the de- mand for a better direct radiator be- coming clearly out- lined, Mr. Reed's inventive mind solved the problem, and the Reed radia- tor, which was brought out in 1879, was the result. Later the celebrated "Union " steam and water radiator was invented. The suc- cess of these inven- tions caused a further increase in the plant, and a commodious foundry with a daily output of six thou- sand feet of radiators and employing five hundred people, was erected on the north side of West- field River. Mr. Reed was married to Julia Priscilla Breckenridge, of Ware, Mass , May 8, 1861, and by her had four children. She died ; and on Jan. 9, 1876, he married Martha Huntington Dudman, of Yarmouth, N. S. They have two children. To the inventive genius of Mr. Reed, no less than to his business ability, is due his high standing among the manufacturers of Western Massachusetts.
JOHN R. REED.
NORTH ADAMS
LUKENE Ce DOitIN
A NEW ENGLAND town of 18,000 people, enterprising and progressive, having at its threshold the largest and most famous railroad tunnel in the country, and for which the town's citizens worked zealously for years under innumerable discouraging circumstances ; with scenery that is not surpassed in the United States ; with two of the largest print works in the country, with employees numbering thousands ; with nearly a half dozen shoe factories, employing hundreds of hands, with pay-rolls amounting to many thousand dollars monthly ; with cotton and woollen factories that employ hundreds more ; with a fine foundry and numerous other diversified industries, - all these and many other things make North Adams a pleasant place for a home and a good place to do business in.
The growth of the town has been steady, and bids fair to continue. Aside from the main village are two smaller villages, - Blackinton and Greylock. The water supply is pure, as, indeed, it must of necessity be in the Berkshire Hills, and ample for protection against fire. The town is supplied with both gas and electric lights, and a street railway, with electricity as a motive power, connects North Adams and Adams, and is likely in the near future to connect the town with Williamstown, the location of Williams College, one of the best of Massachusetts institutions of learning.
The town has as good public schools as the State affords, and money is contributed liberally by the tax- payers that the high state of efficiency may be maintained. The churches are the Congregational, Rev. J. P. Coyle, pastor ; the Methodist Episcopal, Rev. William W. Foster, Jr., pastor ; the Baptist, now without a settled pastor, Rev. F. H. Rowley having lately resigned the pastorate to accept a charge in Chicago ; St. John's Episco- palian, Rev. John C. Tebbets, rector ; the Universalist, Rev. A. B. Church, pastor ; St. Francis, Roman Catholic, Rev. Charles E. Burke, pastor ; Notre Dame of the Sacred Heart, Rev. L. Leduc, pastor. Without exception, all these organizations have fine edifices, and the services are largely attended. From the Congregational Church have gone such widely known and eloquent speakers as Rev. Washington Gladden and Rev. Dr. Munger.
The secret and other organizations are strong in numbers and fraternal in their work. Of the Masonic fraternity there are St. Paul Commandery, Knights Templar ; Composite Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; and two Blue lodges, Lafayette and Greylock, and Naomi Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, all strong and compact organizations. The Odd Fellows have these organizations : Oneco Lodge, Wells Encampment, Canton Colfax and Oneco Mutual Relief Association. The Knights of Honor, Improved Order of Red Men, Royal Arcanum, Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of Hibernians, British American Association, Father Mathew Total Abstinence Society, the Father Mathew Ladies' Aid Society, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Robert Emmet Association, the St. Jean Baptiste Society and the Young Men's Christian Association all have large memberships and are flour- ishing organizations. For purely social organizations or clubs there are the North Adams, the Club Brunswick, · the Washington, the Franco-American, the Pastime Athletic Club and the Lime Kiln Club. The town has a fine hospital, owning its own grounds and building, an excellent public library, a capable fire department, and in the town are the grounds and half-mile track of the Hoosac Valley Agricultural Society. All of these things tend to make North Adams what it is, -a happy, prosperous community.
564
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
A N interesting and picturesque figure in the history of North Adams is Judge James T. Robinson. In the legal profession he has won success and distinc- tion. In politics he has received honors which demon- strate his secure place in the popular regard. In journalism his striking abilities have been devoted to a useful purpose in the discussion of the great questions of the day and the moulding of public opinion. It is not often that rôles requiring such distinct orders of talent are found com- bined in so eminent a degree in one per- son. Judge Robin- son was born in Adams, Berkshire County, Mass., Sept. 6, 1822. At the age of fifteen he moved to North Adams, where he has since made his home. His earlier education was obtained in the pub- lic school and acad- emy, with a few terms spent at Shel- burne Falls, Worth- ington and Benning- ton, Vt. In 1844 he was graduated at Williams College. He read law in the office of his father, Thomas Robinson, an able lawyer. Later he was in partnership with his father. His subsequent career confirmed the wis- dom of his choice of a calling. He easily mastered great legal principles, while his remarkable memory enabled him to treasure up for immediate use such facts as are indispensable in so exacting a profession. He became a powerful advo- cate. Nature gave him great gifts : a striking presence, a melodious voice, an effective action, a command of language equal to every demand, and charged with the most attractive graces and ability to reason along severe logical lines. All these gifts and forces have gained for
Mr. Robinson a foremost place, whether in the court room or on the political rostrum. In early life he was a Whig, but in 1848 he joined the Free-soil movement, and later went into the Republican organization. In his loyalty to this party, he has never swerved. Twice he has been elected to the Massachusetts State Senate. It was during his last term in the Senate, in 1859, that he was appointed judge of probate for Berkshire County. He has held that position ever since. He was secretary of the famous consti- tutional convention of Massachusetts in 1853, and was also a delegate-at-large to the Republican Na- tional Convention in 1860, which nomi- nated Abraham Lin- coln for president. In 1866 Judge Rob- inson purchased the North Adams Trans- cript, one of the best weekly papers in New England and he is still its editor and senior proprietor. The editorial depart- ment, especially, has a high standing among journals. It is instructive in that sense in which his- tory, experience, knowledge, illustra- tion and cogent reasoning appeal to the best sense of the reader. On all polit- ical subjects the editor is enabled to pour from his extensive knowledge such information, and to clothe his thoughts in such excellent language, as to arrest public attention. 'The North Adams Transcript, under Judge Robinson's man- agement, has been a most potent factor in moulding the public opinion of Western Massachusetts. Despite his age, Judge Robinson is still active and in the enjoy- ment of unimpaired mental and physical strength, which promises to last many years more.
JAMES T. ROBINSON.
565
NORTH ADAMS.
A SHLEY B. WRIGHT, of North Adams, congress- man elect, was born in Hinsdale, Mass., in 1841, and is the son of Charles Wright, who was one of the pioneers of the Republican party in Massachusetts. Hon. Ashley B. Wright's early years were spent in Hins- dale, and he was educated in the public schools of that town, and in Professor Lincoln's Academy. He went to North Adams when he was twenty years old, and be- came chief deputy internal revenue collector, under Collector Tinker. He had charge of the tenth district, comprising Hamp- shire and Berkshire counties, and also of the home office in North Adams from its organization to the close of the war. At that time the in- ternal revenue taxes were very heavy, and hundreds of thou- sands of dollars were collected, Mr. Wright performing the du- ties of his office with conscientious care. After the close of the war he became a merchant in North Adams, and has con- tinued in business ever since. In North Adams Mr. Wright served for several years as town clerk. He was afterwards chosen selectman, and for four years was chairman of the board. In politics Mr. Wright has always been a Republican. He was one of the county commissioners of Berkshire County for three years, and chairman of the board for one year. In this capacity he rendered valuable services to the county, and was regarded as one of the most efficient commissioners Berkshire ever had. In 1889 Mr. Wright was chosen a member of the Executive Council from the Eighth Massachusetts District, and was re-elected
ASHLEY B. WRIGHT.
the following year. In that body Mr. Wright served on the committees on Pardons, Finance, Military and Charitable Institutions. In September, 1892, Mr. Wright was nominated for Congress by acclamation by the First Massachusetts District Republican Conven- tion. After a discussion in the public prints lasting for several weeks, the sentiment of the party finally crystal- lized on Mr. Wright as its strongest candidate. Such proved to be the case, for at the polls in November he was elected, defeat- ing Congressman John Crawford Crosby, the strong- est and most popular Democrat in Western Massachusetts, who had made an excel- lent record at Wash- ington in the Fifty- second Congress. Aside from his polit- ical offices, Mr. Wright has held many positions of trust in the commer- cial and financial world. He is a di- rector in the Adams National Bank of North Adams, and a member of the In- vestment Committee of the North Adams Savings Bank. He is liked by every one, is philanthropic, and has probably assisted as many poor people with his means and kind words as any His friends look for-
man now living in North Adams. ward to a successful congressional career for him. Mr. Wright's long experience in public affairs, joined with his business ability, and his thorough acquaintance with the needs of his congressional district, will make him a most useful representative at Washington, and a worthy member of the Massachusetts delegation, which has ever maintained a high reputation and strongly in- fluenced national legislation.
566
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
A LBERT C. HOUGHTON, president of the Arnold Print Works of North Adams, is a native of Stamford, Vt., and is about forty-five years of age. His business career has been one of great success and is due to his masterful abilities. Starting in life with no other capital than his hand and brain, he has triumphed over obstacles which would have defeated most men, and to-day occupies a leading position among the business men of Massachusetts. He is a trustee of Williams College, State direc- tor of the Fitchburg Railroad, president of the North Adams Savings Bank, vice- president of the Adams National Bank, director in the Berkshire Life Insur- ance Company, and was, by Governor Brackett, appointed a World's Fair com- missioner, but this position he subse- quently resigned. His special promi- nence is as president and principal owner of the Arnold Print Works and its four tributary cotton mills, consisting of com- modious brick build_ ings covering over fifteen acres of ground, furnishing employment to over two thousand people and having a yearly pay-roll of over eight hundred thousand dollars, being one of the largest con- cerns under single control in Massachusetts. The Arnold Print Works is the leading establishment of its kind in the United States for variety and excellence of its production ; it is not surpassed in facilities or organ- ization by any rival in Europe. One pleasing thing to Mr. Houghton is that no employee in the concern with which he is connected has ever engaged in any strike. A committee appointed by the Knights of Labor
reported his mill paying the highest wages of any like concern under their jurisdiction. His business acquaintance is very large and influential, and his standing among bankers and in financial circles in New York City and Boston is the very best. Though never in public office he has been from early years an extremely interested member of the Democratic party, and since his going to North Adams has done more than any other man to develop the growing Democratic strength there, which now nearly equals that of the Republi- cans, in what was, until recent years, the banner Republi- can town of Berk- shire County. He gives liberally of his time and money in political campaigns, and Governor Rus- sell has had no more potent aid in West- ern Massachusetts than that contributed by him. In recog- nition of Mr. Hough- ton's valuable politi- cal work, and his ex- tended and influen- tial acquaintance with public men, the State Convention of the Democratic party chose him as (lelegate to the Na- tional Convention to Chicago in 1892. Mr. Houghton was an earnest supporter of Mr. Cleveland's nomination from beginning to end, and he is a manufacturer who has a firm belief in Mr. Cleveland's policy of tariff reform. Mr. Houghton is also president of the Young Men's Democratic Club of North Adams, and under his leadership it promises to become one of the most active political organizations in Berkshire County. He is firm in his friendships, and there are many young men who owe their present inde- pendent position to his kindly interest and aid.
ALBERT C. HOUGHTON.
567
NORTII ADAMS.
F RANK STONE RICHARDSON, one of the most successful business men of his native town, was born in North Adams, Oct. 18, 1856, and is conse- quently in his thirty-seventh year. Mr. Richardson is the son of the late Amasa W. Richardson, one of the pioneer manufacturers of Berkshire County, and Esther Cone, of Albany, N. Y. It is fitting that a few words should be said of Mr. Amasa W. Richardson, for he was one of the notable men of Northern Berkshire. Early in life he successfully established a large dry goods business. In 1848, with Wells, White & Co., he pur- chased the James E. Marshall property, including the old Phoenix Cotton Mill, the Stone Mill on River Street, and the Union Print Works, located where the Windsor Print Works now stand. The company was very successful. Later on he was a successful paper manufacturer at Adams. He was for a time president of the old National Bank of Adams, and assistant treasurer of the Troy & Green- field Railroad Com- pany. His business career, like that of his son, was closely identified with the business growth of North Adams, and he contributed much toward the in- dustrial development of the western part of the Com- monwealth. Mr. Frank Stone Richardson was educated in the public schools of North Adams, and was gradu- ated from the old Drury High School in the class of 1875. Since the year 1878, Mr. Richardson has been the treasurer and manager of the North Adams Gas Light Company. It operates the business of electric lighting and for its size is one of the most prosperous
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